Method and apparatus for manufacturing articles from pulp



F. LOUISOT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES FROM PULP 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 8

awwmtoz Feb. 24, 1925. v 1,527,201 F. LOUISOT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES FROM PULP Original Filed 8. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 LOUISOT Feb; 24. 1

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES FROM PULP 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Oct. 8, 1920 Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FELIX LOUISOT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR T VACUUM PULP PRODUCTS COR- PORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES FROM PULP.

Application filed October 8, 1920, Serial No. 415,652. Renewed July 17, 1924.

This invention relates to the manufacture of articles from pulp and one of the prin-' cipal objects of the invention is to insure the complete separation of the articles from the molds in which they. are formed and 16 to accomplish this expeditiously and without injury to the articles.

In a companion application of mine, Se-

rial No. 258,187, filed October 15, 1918, I

have disclosed a method of separating the articles from the molds in which they are formed by producing a balance of pressure on opposite sides of the mold and then suddenly venting the pressure inside the mold so as to produce an air shock, tending to separate the article from the surrounding mold walls.

My present invention differs from and is an improvement over the method" of the application referred to in that, instead of a single air shock, there are provided a plurality of rapidly recurring shocks WlllCll insure the complete separation from the mold of all portlons of the molded product.

The invention involves certain other novel features, including various combinations and relations of parts as will be fully disclosed in the following specification which is to be read in conjunction with the drawings forming a part hereof.

In the drawings referred to, I have illus trated one of the most simple and practical embodiments of the invention, but wish it understood that the same may be modified in various ways without departure from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as will appeal from the claims hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a machine similar to that disclosed in my copending application and embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is another plan view, taken on a lower plane and showing the parts below the mold carrying table, the central hub of the machine appearing in section in this view.

Figures 3 and 4 are broken side and plan views of the air. shock valve mechanism, Figure 4 being taken substantially on the plane of line 41 of Figure 3. 7

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary sectional views illustrating successive positions of the parts.

In Figure 1, the turn-table which carries the molds is shown at 10 and the molds are indicated at 11 enclosed in the mold chambers 12. The molds are made of screen or other perforate material shaped to produce articles of the desired form and the mold chambers are made in halves, as shown, and are opened at one of the stations, in the rotation of the table to enable the removal of the molded articles.

The pulp is supplied through a pipe line indicated at 13, terminating in an extensible coupling sleeve 14 which iselevated at the proper instant to bring it into engagement with the mouth 15 of a conduit 16, said conduit being shown in this instance as branched or forked to supply pair of molds.

The charging of the mold and the formation of thearticle therein is accomplished by the application of suction to the outside of the mold while its interior is in communication with the pulp supply. This suction is applied by means of a conduit 17 opening to the interior of the chamber containing the molds and provided with a flanged mouth 18 adapted to be engaged by an extensible coupling sleeve 19 (Figure 2) which is connected with a suction producing pump and which at the proper instant is projected into engagement with the mouth of the suction conduit.

After the mold is charged and the article is formed therein, the supply of pulp is cut off by a special valve, the excess pulp within the mold is drained back through the pulp inlet 16 and the pulp and suction couplings 14 and 19 are then withdrawn to permit the table to be turned to the next station.

At this next station (to the left in Figure 2), a compressed air supply coupling 20 is extended into connection with the pulp inlet 16 so as to apply pressure to the inside of the molded article and thereby force out a part of the remaining moisture, which is allowed to drain out of the mold chamber through the outlet 17.

After this draining treatment, the table is again advanced to carry the molded arvanced into engagement with the pulp inlet 16 and air from the compressed air reservoir 37 which is connected with the compressor, indicated at 22, is thereupon again admitted to theinterior of the molded ar ticle to further dry the same. It is at this station also that the air shocks are given for separating the articles from the molds.

The mechanism for this latter purpose includes in the present disclosure, a valve 23 adapted to make sliding contact with the mouth 18 of the outletconduit'17 and which is carried by a stem in bearings 25 and pressed upward to connect with the conduit by a spring 26.

This shock valve is normally held re--' tracted by a bell crank lever 27 pivoted at 28, one arm of which engages with a flange or shoulder 29 on the valve stem and the other arm of which is \c onnected by a link 30 with the lever 31 pivoted at 32 and carrying a roll 33 in engagement with a cam 34:. The upper arm of the bell crank 27 is shown as acted on by a spring 35' which tensions the parts in the position indicated in Figure 3, that is, with the air shock valve withdrawn out of contact with the mouth of the outlet conduit 17. This is the position of the parts during the shifting movements of the table and during the first portion of the drainage period, as shown in Figure 5.

While the rest periods of the mold table may vary to suit different conditions and requirements, I find at the present time that a dwell of three seconds is suificient to ac complish the charging of the molds at the first station and the drainage of the molds at the second and third stations. I also find that a period of one second is ordinarily sufficient for the administration of the air shocks.

The present machines are, therefore, designed to apply the compressed air for the drainage purposes at the third station for the full three seconds interval and the air shock valve is engaged with the mold chamber outlet at approximately the end of a twoseconds interval and allowed to remain in action during the remaining one second of dwell and to have a sliding connection for a short interval, after the table commences to move. The cam which I have illustrated at 34 is, therefore, designed to accomplish these results. The full three-sec onds interval is thus utilized for draining 24 slidingly guided.

or vibrate into and out of connection with' the mouth of conduit 17 to produce a plurality of distinct air shocks by equipping it with an air connection which supplies a force counter to the pressure supplied inside the mold. This connection is shown as a tube 36 extending from the compressed air reservoir 37 to the upper face of the valve and having interposed therein a shutoff valve 38 whose stem 39 projects into position to be engaged by the arm of the bell-crank lever 27.

This valve is tensioned in an opening direction by the spring 40 surrounding the valve stem and the flow of air past the valve is governed by needle valve 41 or other regulating or reducing means.

When the air shock valve is withdrawn, as in Figures 3 and 5, the shut-off valve is closed so that no loss of air occurs. The air shock valve is shown as mounted on a' ball and socket universal joint at 42 so that it may adjust itself into sealing engagement with the mouth 18 of the outlet conduit and the air sup ly tube 36 is, therefore, preferably made exible to allow for this self-adjustment.

When the air shock valve comes into engagement with the mouth of the mold chamber outlet at the end of the two-second or other free drainage period, escape at this pointis temporarily checked, the length of such stoppage being dependent upon the strength of the shock valve closing spring 26 and the pressure of the counterflow of air at 36. The air supplied to the interior of the mold is of higher pressure than the counterflow and hence the checking is but momentary, the valve in fact fluttering rapidly into and out of engagement with the outlet. This action results in a series of air impacts against the articles in the molds, freeing such articles from the inter- A final dislodging impact isv obtained when the compressed air coupling 21 is withdrawn when the table is ready to move to the next Station .and this force may be p rapidly recurring air impulses of dilferent continued during the first part of the table movementby permitting the air shock valve to remain in engagement with the mold chamber outlet for a time after the table commences to move, as illustrated in Figure 7, the mouth 18 of the outlet conduit simply sliding over the air shock valve at this time.

I have not illustrated in this application the means for opening the mold chamber and separating the mold to permit of the removal of the molded article, but it will be apparent from the foregoing that the articles in the molds after being subjected to the rapidly recurring air shocks described, will be freed of the mold fabric to such an extent. as. to readily separate therefrom without injury.

What I claim is:

1. In pulp molding apparatus, a'perforate mold, means for forming a wall of pulp against said mold, and means for subjecting the pulp wall to a plurality of rapidly recurring air impacts tending to separate the pulp wall from the mold.

2. In pulp moldingapparatus, a hollow perforate mold, means for supplying pulp to the interior ofsaid mold, and means for subjecting the mold to a plurality of rapidly recurrent impulses tending to separate the molded pulp from the mold.

3. In pulp. molding apparatus, a hollow perforate mold, means for supplying pulp to the interior of said mold, and means for subjecting the outside of the mold to a plurality of rapidly recurrent air impulses tending to separate the molded pulp from the mold. a

4. In a pulp molding machine, a perforate mold and a chamber enclosing the same, and means for subjecting. the interior of the mold and the interior of the chamber to pressure.

5. In a pulp molding machine, a perforate pulp mold, means for filling the same with pulp, means for applying pressure to the pulp within the mold, and means for applying pressure impulses to the exterior of the mold.

6. In a pulp molding machine, a perforate mold, means for filling the same with pulp, means for applying pressure to the pulp within the mold, a chamber enclosing the mold, and means for rapidly opening and closing said chamber a plurality of times during the application of pressure within the mold.

7. In a pulp molding machine, a perforate mold, means for filling the same with pulp, means for appl ing ressure to the pulp within the Il'lOlC a chamber enclosing the mold, means for rapidly opening and closing said chamber a plurality of times during the application of pressure w'thin the mold, and means for simultaneous y applying a counterpressure to the outside of the mold.

8. In a pulp molding machine, a mold, means for applying pressure within the mold, a chamber enclosing the mold, and means for alternately opening and closing said mold chamber a plurality of times during the application 'of pressure inside the mold.

9. In a pulp molding machine, a mold, a chamber enclosing the mold and provided with an outlet, means for applying pressure to the interior of the mold, and a vibrating valve for alternately opening and closing the outlet from the mold chamber.

10. In a pulp molding machine, a mold, a chainber enclosing the mold and provided with an outlet, means for applying pressure to the interior of the mold, a vibrating valve for alternately opening and closing the outlet from the mold chamber, and means carried by the valve for applying pressure to the mold chamber counter to the pressure within the mold.

11. In a pulp molding machine, a mold, a chamber enclosing the mold and provided with an outlet, means for applying pressure to the interior of the mold, a vibrating valve for alternately opening and closing the outlet from the mold chamber, and means carried by the valve for applying pressure to the mold chamber counter to the pressure within the mold, said latter means including valve mechanism for regulating the force of said counterpressure.

12. In a pulp molding machine, a mold, an intermittently operated traveling support therefor, means for applying pressure to one side of the mold during the rest periods thereof, and means for applying a counterpressure to the other side of the mold during a portion only of such rest periods. L

13. In a pulp molding machine, a mold, an intermittently operated traveling support therefor, means for applying pressure to one side of the mold during the rest periods thereof, and means for applying a counterpressure to the other side of the mold during a portion only of such rest periods and during-a part of the intermittent traveling movements thereof.

14; In a pulp molding machine, an intermittently operated traveling support, a mold and a mold enclosing chamber on said support, said mold and mold chamber having conduits, a compressed air coupling engageable with one of said conduits during the rest periods of the traveling support, and a vibrating valve engageable with the other of said conduits during such rest periods. 7 i

15. In a pulp molding machine, an intermittently operated traveling support, a mold and a mold enclosing chamber on said lllll support, said mold and mold chamberhav ing conduits, a compressed air coupling engageable with one of said conduits during the rest periods of the traveling support, and a vibrating valve engageable with the other of said conduits during such rest periods and during a portion of the traveling periods.

16. In a pulp molding machine, an intermittently operated traveling support, a mold and a mold enclosing chamber on said support, said mold and mold chamber having conduits, a compressed air coupling engageable with one of said conduits during the rest periods of the traveling support, a vibrating valve engageable with the other of said conduits during such -rest periods, and a pressure connection carried by said vibrating valve.

17. In a pulp molding machine, an intermittently operated traveling support, a mold and a mold enclosing chamber on said support, said mold and mold chamber having conduits, a compressed air coupling engageable with one of said conduits during the rest periods of the traveling support, a closure for the other conduit, and means for causing the same to vibrate into and out of cooperative relation therewith.

18. In a pulp molding machine, a mold provided with a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber having an outlet, a pressure connection engageable with the pul inlet, and an automaticall operating vi rating i closure engageable with the chamber outlet.

19. In a pulp molding machine, a mold provided with a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber having an outlet, a pressure connection engageable with the pulp inlet, an automatically operating vibrating closure engageable with the chamber outlet, and a pressure connection carried by said closure.

20. In a pulp molding machine, a mold provided with apulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber having an outlet, a pressure connection engageable with the pulp inlet, an automatically operating vibrating closure engageable with the chamber outlet, and means for retracting the pressure connection and the closure from engagement with the pulp inlet and chamber outlet respectively.

21. In a pulp molding machine, a mold provided with a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber having an outlet, :1. pressure connection engageable'with the pulp inlet, an automatically operating vibrating closure engageable with the chamber out-let, means for disengaging the closure from the chamber outlet, and means for disengaging the pressure connection from the pulp inlet in advance of the disengagement of the closure from the chamber outlet.

22. In a pulp molding machine, a mold provided with a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber having an outlet, a valve engageable with said outlet, a pressure connection carried by said valve, and means for retracting the valve from the outlet and for cutting off the supply of pressure.

23. In a pulp molding machine, a mold provided with a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber having an outlet, a valve engageable with said outlet, a pressure connection carried by said valve, means for retracting the valve from the outlet and for cutting ofl' the supply of pressure, a pressure connection engageable with the pulp inlet, and means for retracting said pressure connection.

24. In a pulp molding machine, a mold having a pulp inlet, a mold enclosingchamher having an outlet, a closure for said outlet, means for shifting said closure into and out of engagement with the outlet, a pressure connection carried by the outlet, and a valve in said pressure connection operable in the retractive movements of the closure.

25. In a. pulp molding machine, a mold having a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamher having an outlet, a closure 'for said outlet, means for shifting said closure into and out of engagement with the outlet, a pressure connection carried by the outlet, and a valve in said pressure connection operable in the retractive movements of the closure, said pressure connection including a pres- .sure reducing valve independent of the valve aforesaid.

26. Ina ulp molding machine, a mold provided wlth a pul inlet, a mold enclosing chamber provi ed with an outlet, a closure for said outlet, a pressure connection to said closure and including a shutofi valve, and means for shifting said closure into and out of engagement with the;

outlet and for substantially simultaneously operating said shut-off valve.

27. In a pulp molding machine, a mold provided with a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber provided with an outlet, a blosure for said outlet, a ressure connection to said closure and inclu ing a shut-oil valve, means for shifting said closure into and out of ongagement with the outlet and for substantially simultaneously operating said shutoff valve, and a pressure reducing valve interposed in the pressure connection and operable independently of the shut-off valve.

28. In a pulp molding machine, a mold chamber provided with a conduit, a valve engageablewith said conduit and provided with a stem, an operating lever engaging said stem, a pressure connection to the valve, and'a shut-off valve interposed in said pressure connection and actuated by the operating lever aforesaid.

29. In a pulp molding machine, an intermittently actuated rotating turn-table, a pulp mold carried thereby and provided with mittently actuated a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber on the table provided with an outlet, a compressed air supply coupling, means for engaging the same with'the pulp inlet in the rest periods of the turn-table, an air shock valve, means for permitting engagement of the same with the chamber outlet during part of the rest periods of the turn-table, and a compressed air connection carried by said air shock valve.

30. In a pulp molding machine, an interrotating turn-table, a pulp mold carried thereby and provided with a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber on the table provided with an outlet, a compressed air supply coupling, means for engaging the same with the pulp inlet in the rest periods of the turn-table, an air shock valve, means for permitting engagement of the same with the chamber outlet during part of the rest periods of the turntable, a compressed air connection carried by said air shock valve, and a regulatable pressure reducing valve in said air connection.

31. In a pulp molding machine, an intermittently actuated rotating turn-table, a pulp mold carried thereby and provided with a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber on the table provided with an outlet, a compressed air supply coupling, means for en gaging the same with the pulp inlet in the rest periods of the turn-table, an air shock valve, means for permitting engagement of the same with the chamber outlet during part of the rest periods of the turn-table, a compressed air connection carried by said air shock valve, and an automatically operrated shut-off valve in the air connection.

32. In a pulp molding machine, a mold provided with a pulp inlet, a mold enclosing chamber provided with an outlet, a compressed air coupling engageable with the mold inlet, an air shock valve engageable with the chamber outlet, an air supply connection carried by the air shock valve, a shut-off valve interposed in said air connection, a bellcrank lever for retracting the air shock valve from engagement with the chamber outlet, and operating connections from said bellcrank lever for actuating the shut-elf valve.

33. The improvement in the art of making pulp articles which comprises applying suction to the outside of a perforate mold containing a liquid pulp mixture to pull the liquid through the mold and the pulp against the interior to form the article, applying compressed air to the inside and rap- ,idly accumulating and venting the compressed air on the outside of the article in the mold.

34:. The improvement in the art of making pulp articles which comprises applying. suction to the outside of a perforate mold containing a liquid pulp mixture to pull the liquid through the mold and the pulp against the interior to form the article, applying compressed air to the inside and repeatedly accumulating and venting the compressed air on the outside of the article in the mold. 35. The improvement in the art of making pulp articles which comprises molding the article against the interior of a perforate mold, then subjecting the exterior cf the article in said perforate mold to a plurality of rapidly recurrent air shocks to free it from the perforations of the mold and then opening the-mold to permit of removal of the article therefrom.

36. The improvement in the art of molding pulp articles by perforate molds which comprises applying compressed air to one side of the molded article sustained on the mold, repeatedly accumulating and venting the compressed air on the opposite side of the article on the mold and then venting the compressed air from the first-mentioned side of the mold.

37. The improvement in the art of molding pulp articles by perforate molds which comprises applying compressed air to one side of the molded article sustained on the mold, repeatedly accumulating and venting the compressed air on the opposite side of the article on the mold and then venting the compressed air from the first-mentioned side of the mold, and finally applying pressure to said opposite side of the article after the venting of the compressed air from the firstmentioned side.

38. The improvement in the art of mold ing pulparticles by perforate molds which comprises applying compressed air to one side of the molded article sustained on the mold, applyin compressed air to a modified extent to the opposite side of the molded article after intermittently venting the pressure at said last-mentioned side of the article.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.-

FELIX LOUISOT. 

